New survey takes aim at safety on northern Ontario highways

Growing concerns over northern Ontario highways from truckers has the industry looking to hear from drivers who hit the pavement on a regular basis.

The survey was launched by the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) and hundreds have already responded.

"We'll consolidate that information and start to develop more policies and a workplan with our board of directors in the next couple of weeks and sit down with our road safety partners," said the OTA's Geoff Wood.

It's being made available in English, French and Punjabi in an effort to reach as many of its 800 members as possible.

Fleet owners have been asked to circulate it amongst their drivers. The association said that their input is essential.

"Could be the folks that drive 18-wheelers -- or tractor trailers, as we would call them -- but it's not limited to that,” Wood said.

“It's basically asking any … professional truck drivers that operate in the north to complete the survey.”

The issue of road safety is nothing new to politicians like Temiskaming Shores Councillor Danny Whalen, who is also the president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities.

"The vast majority of our skilled, long-time drivers are simply pulling the pin and leaving the industry because they don't see it safe anymore," Whalen said.

He said he welcomes the industry taking an active role in the issue.

"I mean it's becoming quite evident – we have new drivers that are pulling 53-foot trailers, trying to pull a U-turn on a two-lane highway,” Whalen said.

“I mean I'm not a truck driver and I know it's not going to work.”

He said FONOM has also been looking for action from the Ministry of Transportation itself and is hoping it will get some answers from the minister soon.

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The association said it plans on keeping the survey open for only a couple more weeks and then the real work starts.

You can find the full survey here.